#AyadeLeon | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thebookdragon217 · 1 year

Photo

"But in reality, as our country is finally coming to understand, that level of wealth had the danger of leading to corruption, leading individuals to believe they can do anything and are exempt from the laws of our nation." Thank you @cocoachapters and @kensingtonbooks for the gifted copies. Check out my stories for a chance to win a copy. That Dangerous Energy by Aya DeLeon was a fast paced, crime novel that dealt with many contemporary and historical themes. I loved that it was female driven spy story that dealt with the climate crisis. DeLeon introduces the characters layer by layer and once the action kicks in, it's non-stop heart thumping until the end. DeLeon's writing is insightful and revelatory. The character development is strong and the fast-paced plot will keep you glued to the pages. The flashbacks to the main protagonist's family history added a nice touch to her personal growth story. I loved that this one was oozing with feminist energy throughout and showed how women can also be complicit in patriarchy and misogyny. It was interesting to see how DeLeon weaves identity and poverty into this story and shows how they affect choices women are forced to make. I highly recommend this one if you're interested in: 💥 Afro-Boricua authors or Afro-Latinx representation/identity 💥 climate crisis and activism 💥intersectional feminism 💥 crime fiction & spy stories 💥 the role of Black women in activist movements 💥 anti-racism work 💥 corruption of power 💥 female driven thrillers & suspense 💥 Brooklyn, NY flavor 💥 fast paced crime fiction with a noir feel #ThatDangerousEnergy #AyaDeLeon #bookrecommendations #bookworm #bookstagram #ReadPuertoRican #tbr #reading #AfroBoricua #books #AfroLatinx #20booksbyblackwomen #feminism #thrillers #noir #activism #climatechange #spystories #murals #Brooklyn #bookstagrammer #fiction #bookphotos #bookstagrampr #read #igreads #ReadCaribbean #crime https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvHUWPLuTQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

1 note · View note

latinxinpublishing-blog · 7 years

Text

Poet, Activist and Author, Aya de León In Conversation with LxP On Life and Work

Aya de León is an author to watch: Uptown Thief, her first trade novel, just won the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Urban Fiction. The follow-up to Uptown Thief, The Boss, will be available wherever books are sold this May. Her work has been talked about everywhere from Library Journal to the Village Voice and American Theatre Magazine. There’s no sign of the spoken word professor and performer stopping anytime soon and LxP is thrilled to ask her about her life and work during National Poetry Month.

Where do you draw inspiration for your writing? My inspiration comes from a combination of outrage at how the world currently is and envisioning how I would like the world to be. How would you describe the genre of books like The Boss and Uptown Thief? Why did you decide to write in this genre? These books are part of my "Justice Hustlers" series with Kensington Publishing. They are officially Urban Women's Fiction, but I call them Feminist Heist novels. I've spent much of my adult life working in progressive and nonprofit environments. There's always this moment when we're scrambling for funding and someone suggests that we should rob a bank. This is basically that fantasy brought to life. What audience did you have in mind when writing these novels? How did you decide to write for that audience? I write for women. My heroines are women of color, but I hope to appeal to women from many different walks of life. I'm fortunate to be writing for Kensington's Dafina imprint, which primarily targets young African-American and Latinx women, so they market heavily to young WOC. Part of the reason I think of myself as writing for women is that (as VIDA and other women's writer's groups and organizations show over and over again), male gatekeepers in the literary establishment are deeply committed to ignoring women's writing. So, I just embrace the notion that I'm writing for women and go for it. What themes, ideas, or conclusions, if any, do you hope for your audience to take away from these books? I'm an unabashed feminist and I hope that people will take away visions of women's agency, power, and cooperation. I hope people will have opportunities to think about the many ways that women are oppressed and see that the way to address that is to work together and organize, as opposed to individual solutions. I'm really impressed by Andi Zeisler's work on marketplace feminism [We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl®, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement], that really questions the idea the feminist/feminism is just about personal choice, individual identity, celebrities, and consumer brands. Also, I really like how [the protagonist of Uptown Thief] Marisol is a super badass Latinx woman. She defies stereotypes about us but also has that cariño and backbone and sense of family that is so powerful among the women in our communities. I hope folks will see Latinx women in a different light, and that we can also imagine ourselves differently. Another theme in the books is resisting assimilation, and this really came out of Uptown Thief. The second book in the series, The Boss, is about Tyesha, who is African American. The third book is about a pair of West Indian sisters. And they all have to go back to reclaim something about their original culture. Your writing tackles some heavy themes like sex work and the effects of structural inequality. How did you first become interested in these issues? I was a politically active teenager, so I've been thinking about these issues for many years. I started Uptown Thief in 2008, and it was my first time writing about sex work. In thinking about structural inequality—particularly race, class, and gender—I liked the idea of people going out and redistributing the wealth, as opposed to only putting pressure on others who have wealth and power to try to get them to change. At the same time, I do also believe in social movements and in voting. In particular, I've been a big advocate of Steve Phillips' book Brown is the New White, which talks about how people of color and progressive whites are a New American Majority that can win any national election if the Democratic party has a grassroots focus, progressive policies, and stops chasing white men who lean conservative. Do you have plans to continue writing in this genre or would you like to try any others? (Memoir? Children's books?) I am contracted for 4 books in this series (all heists), and then I think there are two more in my head that are more just action/romance. I also just finished a YA Black/Latinx girl spy book. I have a children's book in the works about talking to children about anti-black racism. I'm also interested in an intersectional memoir about food/body image. Your first book, Puffy: People Whose Hair Defies Gravity, was a self-published children's book. What have been some of the major differences between indie publishing and getting a book deal? Where to begin? I wrote Puffy while I was desperately trying to get an agent. I really was going crazy with the waiting game. It was so great to be able to press a "publish" button and get it to happen. At the same time, there was no one behind that book but me. No press. No infrastructure. Uptown Thief has had a much bigger life because my publisher had invested in it. I've been really fortunate, however, that Puffy has had a bigger life than it would have, thanks to some great progressive librarians who have backed the book. If I had it to do over again, I would have published with both CreateSpace and Lightning Source. Since it's only with CreateSpace, I can't get into indy bookstores, because CreateSpace is an Amazon company, and many of them won't do business with Amazon. You came up in the Bay Area spoken word scene and currently teach at UC Berkeley. You’re an acclaimed author, activist, educator, and mother. Is there anything about your career trajectory that you feel might be instructional or educational for the next generation of WOC writers? First off, the biggest thing of all: the road to creative success is full of failure and rejection. Don't give up. My own personal path was to delay motherhood til my early 40s and go really hard after my personal healing in my 20s and my artistic career in my 30s. But in all of it, I had to run up against my own internalized racism and sexism as an Afro-Latinx woman. There were ways that we get groomed to be of service to others, and we feel guilt if we put ourselves first, and discomfort if we hustle on our own behalf. I had to be willing to dial back the caretaking and keep a lot of my energy for myself and my career. Now that I'm a mom, it's even more intense, because there is another person who is really dependent on me for care. So I'm supposedly "balancing" this day job, writing, family, being an activist, doing the motherhood thing. There are days now, when "I'm having it all" which includes a great kid, a loving and challenging marriage, a chest cold, a new book coming out, a cluttered house, and I'm running late between my kid's school and work and I think, yep, this is me having it all!

#AyadeLeon #UptownThief #TheBoss #JusticeHealers #LatinxWomen #Afro-LatinxWomen #FeministHeist #KensingtonPublishing #Dafina

2 notes · View notes

watchwhatyounodto · 7 years

Video

aya de leon's SOLID piece "if women ran hip hop" is over ten years old now! and not only are we so far from all the points she raised in it, but that countless "conscious" folk perpetuate the status quo--fellas in particular and we need to shift the paradigm already, if not to aya's vision, far closer at least. *this is maybe a third of her entire on point piece, which will be shared in its entirety on the vhhm tumblr page. #ayadeleon #ifwomenranhiphop #thieves #lgbtqai #feminism #petadoption #misogyny

#ayadeleon #petadoption #ifwomenranhiphop #thieves #lgbtqai #feminism #misogyny

1 note · View note

thoughtportal · 3 years

Photo

https://twitter.com/AyadeLeon/status/1462812275115319298

#tweet #tweets #twitter #tweet thread #economics #economy #birth rate #workers vs capital #workers rights #labor vs capital #capital vs labor #labor rights #labor #labor strike #parents #children

3 notes · View notes

holley4734 · 3 years

Text

A Spy in the Struggle: #bookreview

A Spy in the Struggle: #bookreview @AyadeLeon #ClimateJustice #BlackLives #ASpyintheStruggle @NetGalley #NetGalley @KensingtonBooks

“My situation was unique . . . being an African-American woman working undercover is exceptionally stressful . . . When I wasn’t on assignment . . . I would stay in bed, isolated and along, for days. ” – From Clean Dirt: A Memoir of Johnnie Mae Gibson, FBI Special Agent A Spy in the Struggle. Amazon affiliate link Aya de Leon’s A Spy in the Struggle is not the typical spy novel but I’m here for…

View On WordPress

#A Spy in the Struggle #African American #African-American spy #African-american writer #Aya de Leon #Black History Month #book blog #book blogger #Book review #books #NetGalley #social issues

1 note · View note

kensingtonbooks · 7 years

Photo

We're heading into the weekend and celebrating the start of #HispanicHeritageMonth with new/upcoming releases from a few of our Latinx authors! What book are you reading this weekend? . . . @authorandiej's second #OneNightInSouthBeach came out this week and is a sizzling must-read romance. #AyaDeLeon's #JusticeHustlers are back and ready to pull out all the stops in the name of justice. @carmenritaw is back in a powerful novel about the strength of sisterhood in NEVER TOO LATE. @prisoliveras' debut romance will have you dancing for joy when it hits the shelves (and e-readers) on 9/26!

#hispanicheritagemonth #ayadeleon #justicehustlers #onenightinsouthbeach

0 notes

laurenmariefleming · 7 years

Photo

Strong women of color as empowered sex workers robbing from corrupt billionaires to fund a community clinic. What's not to love about this easy to read yet provocative book? #uptownthief #ayadeleon . . . . #amreading #bookstagram #bookshelf #booklover #bookshelves #writerswhoread #onmyshelf #booknerd #romancenovel

#amreading #booklover #onmyshelf #bookstagram #uptownthief #ayadeleon #booknerd #writerswhoread #bookshelf #romancenovel #bookshelves

0 notes

morganbelarus · 7 years

Text

#BlackWomenAtWork uncovers the everyday racism black women face at work

The disrespectful and condescending treatment of two prominent black women in the U.S. has sparked a global hashtag campaign about everyday racism.

On Tuesday, Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly said he couldn't listen to Congresswoman Maxine Waters' latest speech about Trump because of her hair, which he called "a wig." Later that day, U.S. Press Secretary Sean Spicer told veteran journalist April Ryan to "stop shaking her head" in response to an answer he gave.

SEE ALSO: Bill O'Reilly attacks Maxine Waters' hairstyle, triggering world's largest eye roll

Women around the world have since been sharing their "Maxine and April moments," using the hashtag #BlackWomenAtWork to highlight the everyday reality faced by black women.

Activist Brittany Packnett kicked off the hashtag #BlackWomenAtWork "so people don't think this is rare."

"It isnt new. It is the daily experience of black women in the work place at all levels laid bare for the public to finally see with naked eyes," Packnett told Mashable. "These women at least deserve respect as humans, let alone as professionals. They received neither. It is absolutely unacceptable. They deserve the respect that their humanity, their accomplishments, and their work demands."

SEE ALSO: Angry Sean Spicer tells April Ryan, a veteran black female journalist, to "stop shaking" her head

Today, we were told a Black woman's hair matters more than her voice, and our choices are under the control of others.

Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) March 28, 2017

This happens to black women everyday at work. Share your Maxine and April moments, so people don't think this is rare. Use #BlackWomenAtWork

Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) March 28, 2017

"Every day we are told that our body language is wrong, that both our silence and our speaking are 'combative,' that our mere presence is intimidating, that our looks matter more than our work, that our natural hair is 'unprofessional,' that we couldnt possibly have attained our station by our merits, are looked over and ignored, or endure a worse pay gap than our white women counterparts," said Packnett.

"It happens to black women of every station, whether were wage earners or pull in high salaries, whether we are domestic workers or in the C-suite. Black women have been at work since the dawn of this nation and have worked ourselves to the bone. We deserve dignity and respect. We have earned no less. No matter what, we will show it to ourselves and each other," Packnett said.

Hundreds of women took to Twitter sharing their experiences. For example, women working in academia talked about prejudice in the workplace.

I say I teach. People ask "what grade?" I say I teach college. They ask "community college?" I'm on UC Berkeley's faculty. #BlackWomenAtWork

{((Aya de Leon))} (@AyadeLeon) March 29, 2017

Me: I'd like to check on the status of the books for this class. Staff: The faculty member does that. Me: I am faculty.#BlackWomenAtWork

Nyasha Junior (@NyashaJunior) March 28, 2017

Some women talked about their coworkers underestimating their qualifications.

Surprised from white folks when you tell them you have a graduate degree as well, like they didn't expect it. #BlackWomenAtWork

Mina the Autodidact (@BEAUTYBRAINS25) March 29, 2017

Once, I asked for a raise after 2 yrs. I discovered my manager lied saying I didn't have a degree.I had 2 college degrees. #BlackWomenAtWork

Lisa Barber (@PhysicalCanvas) March 29, 2017

True Blood actor Jurnee Smollett talked about her experience of discrimination in Hollywood.

Me: hey I really loved this script..is that role open?

Them: Oh, we aren't will to "go ethnic" on that role #BlackWomenAtWork in Hollywood

jurnee smollett (@jurneesmollett) March 29, 2017

Some of the tweets revealed the assumptions made about black women's level of seniority in their roles.

#BlackWomenAtWork a guy from another office told my mom to make him coffee. He didn't know she was the regional buyer aka HIS BOSS'S BOSS

Synthra (@ZhiteraWiggins) March 28, 2017

#BlackWomenAtWork Constantly getting mistaken for his personal assistant/ secretary when we are both QUALIFIED Quantity Surveyors.

Abigail T. Letsholo (@abbz_lets) March 29, 2017

@NyashaJunior me:can I get the key from no.19? Staff: Can only give it to teacher. Me: I am teacher. #BlackWomenAtWork or #YoungPeopleAtWork

Jaromir Mazak (@JaromirMazak) March 29, 2017

One woman tweeted that a white colleague used the N-word in her presence, claiming that it was fine because rappers use the word.

#BlackWomenAtWork a yt colleague used the N word & said "I don't get the big deal all your people use it", when I probed she said rappers

Hayley Mills (@LenahLang) March 29, 2017

A lot of women shared stories in which colleagues made inappropriate and racist remarks about their hair.

#BlackWomenAtWork my boss: your hair is making too much statment Me: Susan's has 4 different colors My boss: yes but it's not an afro

Lisa Craddock (@LisaCraddock1) March 29, 2017

#BlackWomenAtWork being told ur natural hair is unprofessional and makes u look aggressive

Liquid nitro (@Palesamadiba) March 29, 2017

#BlackWomenAtWork Her: " Your hair is so curly. Can I touch it??" Me: http://pic.twitter.com/xHQxMf5tLd

(@Divinelylogical) March 28, 2017

Coworker: what are you doing with your hair ? Me: Going natural Him: Stop it, it looks bad you're ruining yourself #blackwomenatwork

KAY RO$$ (@Bluntlioness) March 29, 2017

This was my hair when told "I don't like your hair like that it's awful." #BlackWomenAtWork http://pic.twitter.com/74RVfNiVMj

Freedom Nicole Moore (@freedommomusic) March 29, 2017

Maxine Waters responded to the incident with O'Reilly, tweeting a powerful statement alongside the hashtag, stating she's "not going anywhere."

I am a strong black woman. I cannot be intimidated, and I'm not going anywhere. #BlackWomenAtWork

Maxine Waters (@MaxineWaters) March 29, 2017

"Ive met Congresswoman Waters and worked with April Ryan it was like someone came for my aunties.They laid the groundwork for so many of us," said Brittany Packnett. "We will love and support one another especially when others don't.Period."

WATCH: Across the globe, nasty women and men hit the streets one day after Trump's inauguration